By going to the Atlanta Braves in a seven-player trade, Upton becomes part of a legitimate World Series contender, gets to play in the same outfield as his older brother, B.J. Upton, and for the first time in going on two years, no longer has to hear his name in trade speculation.

Not a bad way to finish what has been a trying offseason. No one can fault Justin Upton now for rejecting a trade last week that would have sent him to Seattle.

Though the Braves are sending five players to Arizona, including All-Star Martin Prado and 22-year-old right-hander Randall Delgado, this makes them better today without diminishing their future. The Braves also acquired Chris Johnson, a 28-year-old third baseman who figures to take over for retired Chipper Jones. Before this deal, the Braves were looking at playing Prado in left field and Juan Francisco at third.

With Uptons in left and center and Jason Heyward in right, the Braves boast one of the game’s top outfields. It’s also one of the youngest with a 23-year-old in Heyward, 25-year-old in Justin Upton and a 28-year-old in B.J. Upton.

Many believe the Uptons will benefit from pushing each other. “They both have a tendency to lose focus, especially (Justin),” a scout said.

The addition of the younger Upton certainly helps the Braves tighten their race with the Nationals for supremacy in the National League East. The two clubs, both of whom reached the playoffs in 2012 (and lost to the Cardinals) have waged a top-this-acquisition slugfest reminiscent of the Yankees and Red Sox from yesteryear:

• The Nationals traded for center fielder Denard Span to give them a prototypical leadoff hitter and, along with Bryce Harper in left and Jayson Werth in right, an outfield that could be the best defensively in the National League.

But the Nationals’ trio can’t top the athleticism of Braves’ outfield after adding the two Uptons to go with Jason Heyward. All three are considered legitimate five-tool talents.

• Already armed with the game’s strongest bullpen, the Braves traded for another hard-throw right-hander, Jordan Walden. The Nationals’ pen could be just as deep, though, after signing closer Rafael Soriano last week.

“This creates an even bigger separation between the top two and the rest of the NL East,” said a talent evaluator in the division. “This significantly hurts the Phillies’ chances.”

The Braves, pointed out the talent evaluator, should lead the NL in home runs “especially playing in that ballpark.” They have a player capable of hitting 25 homers at every position except shortstop, which will be manned by young defensive whiz Andrelton Simmons. Such power potential should prove worth the price of all the strikeouts expected to come with it.

Though their lineup will be set when the trade becomes official next week, the Braves’ batting order remains unsettled because of the lack of a true leadoff hitter. Neither B.J. Upton nor Simmons makes an ideal candidate. Upton struck out 169 times and posted a .298 OBP last season; Simmons has played in only 49 big-league games.

Chemistry could be another concern for Atlanta, which has lost its top two clubhouse leaders in Jones and Prado.

As for the Diamondbacks, well, GM Kevin Towers now can enjoy his upcoming trip to Africa knowing that he finally has moved Upton, who not long ago was considered the cornerstone of the club’s future. But after being called out by managing partner Ken Kendricks last summer, Upton’s relationship with the team became understandably strained. As trade rumors continued through the off-season, a deal became inevitable to avoid what, at best, would have made an awkward reunion between Upton and the club in spring training.

Arizona’s five-player haul could benefit the team in the future but the present appears unsettled. Since the end of last season, Towers has traded away two of his starting outfielders and the team’s top pitching prospect, Trevor Bauer.

While the players they have added — Prado, Delgado, starter Brandon McCarthy, shortstops Cliff Pennington and Didi Gregorius, veteran backups Eric Chavez and Eric Hinske and lefty reliever Tony Sipp — are serviceable, it’s hard to see them doing much to bring the Diamondbacks closer to the Giants and Dodgers in 2013.

At least the Diamondbacks finally can move forward now. So can Justin Upton, who has the bonus of heading into a superior situation.